Improving Your Football Kicking Distance: Strategies and Techniques Kickers and punters come in all shapes and sizes, which is one of the many fascinating aspects of the position. Interestingly, a kicker does not need to be particularly large or fast to achieve great distances with their kicks. While one might assume that a bigger person would naturally kick farther, this isn’t necessarily the case. The ability to kick a football farther is primarily derived from a blend of strength and quickness. Many often inquire about how to increase kicking distance and strength. While there's a myriad of advice out there, the essence is often about enhancing leg strength and implementing specific drills. For instance, Durant Brooks, a Ray Guy Award winner, credited his leg strength to the time spent riding horses during his youth. While purchasing a horse isn't mandatory for all kickers, incorporating targeted workouts and kicking drills can significantly improve your kicking performance. Strengthening for Better Kicks It’s a common misconception that just focusing on leg strength, such as through squats, will significantly extend kicking range. While leg strength is crucial, kicking a football far involves the whole body. Full-body strength is vital, and as your legs become stronger, your potential for powerful kicks increases. Key Muscle Groups for Kickers: - Ensure participation in general team workouts like squats and bench presses. - Focus additional gym time on kicking-specific muscles by visualizing the kick or practicing in water to identify active muscles. - Workouts should emphasize the quads and hamstrings, critical during the downswing and backswing of a kick. Core Strength: Besides legs, core strength plays a significant role in kicking. A strong core enhances the torque during your kick, contributing to both the distance and height of the ball. Technique Improvements: - Increase Your Back Swing: Enhancing the back swing is crucial. Think of the analogy of punching a bag — you wouldn't punch effectively from a short distance without pulling back. Similarly, a longer backswing in kicking helps generate more momentum. - Leverage Your Body: Young kickers often rely too much on their legs. Incorporating full body motion can improve control and power, reducing reliance on over-exerting the leg. - Lock The Leg at Impact: Just as a pitcher locks their arm to throw a baseball far, a kicker should lock their leg when making contact with the football to optimize power transfer.